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1 San Diego County Edition Vol. 31, No. 8 August World Former San Diegans bring vital bicycle transportation to Africa page 2 Grandmother launches integrity program to equip teen girls for life By Lori Arnold Greg Laurie Evangelism not reserved for just a few Christ followers page 4 Community Bach to rock: Lakeside church hosts concert series for community page 14 Foreigner afield Missionary from India ministers to Southern California immigrants FREE ESCONDIDO Many years and miles separate Mary Gene Hassell from her traditionally southern upbringing. Under the guidance of her Christian parents, Hassell grew up with an ethic that not only helped to shape her own life, but also that of her daughters and granddaughters. I grew up in a Southern Baptist home in South Georgia, and my family was very involved in all activities at the church, she said. My faith was my families faith, and, at age 13, through much youth leader encouragement, I became a Christian. As is common with many young adults, though, she let the demands of a college education and her newly married life to a Navy carrier pilot erode her commitment to her faith and the church. Attendance at church, a regular practice as a child, became sporadic. I had two baby daughters in the first few years of marriage, and it changed my life, she said. I came to understand (that) for the rest of my life as a mother I was responsible for these two precious human beings and I was not equipped without God s help. Determined to provide the same foundation for her own children that she had, Hassell said she jumpstarted her relationship with Jesus by diligently immersing herself in the Word. Shalomi Philip, who was enrolled in last spring s LILI program, practices domestic skills with an iron. As we traveled around the country and abroad with the Navy, my main job was being the best mother I could, especially with a very often absent husband off saving the world, she said. As her girls navigated high school, Hassell guided them through some rough patches, including bouts of drug and alcohol use. By the grace of God they survived and matured, she said. Over time Hassell began to accept more responsibility at her church, becoming a Sunday School teacher for junior and high school students. My experience with their prob- By Lori Arnold A member of India Christian Fellowship in Poway, dressed in traditional clothing, prays. SAN DIEGO Growing up in the caste-driven culture of India, Alexander John was acutely aware of the deep-seated oppressiveness of Hinduism. A person responding to the gospel often faces enormous pressure from family and peers, John said. These pressures sometimes take the form of persecution and ostracism. Fortunately for him, his Christian parents raised John in the faith and by 1990 he made his own profession to follow Christ. After graduating from seminary, John decided to become a foreign missionary, reaching his lost peers in affluence-driven Southern California. That is God s calling on my life, and I have been obedient to that call, he said. That obedience calls for some jam-packed weekends and plenty of freeway miles as he pastors India Christian Fellowship of San Diego and India Christian Assembly in Los Angeles. On Fridays, I teach a Bible study group in various homes in Los Angeles, he said. Saturday evenings are set apart for the worship service here in San Diego. Sunday mornings, from 11:30 to 1 p.m., I lead a service at Sherman Oaks, and on Sunday evening, I minister at India Christian Fellowship in Norwalk. Throughout the week he also leads Bible studies throughout Los Angeles. Yes, it can become physically tiring, John said. But I always compare myself to other ministers in India who work harder and in less privileged circumstances. I don t consider what I do to be much, and it is the Lord who strengthens me. We go where the people are and minister to them. John, who has assisted the Rev. See TEEN GIRLS, page 8 See MISSIONARY, page 7 Action heroes Disaster recovery and remote relief is their mission Gary Becks, center with back to camera, supervises the delivery of medical supplies deep in the jungles of Honduras. By Patti Townley-Covert SAN BERNARDINO Deep in the jungles of the Miskito Coast, a breech baby or machete injury can be a death sentence. For 9-year-old Nadia, an umbilical hernia became a life-or-death emergency. Common in infants, this ailment had been left untreated until it finally blew out Nadia s belly button. Part of her intestine protruded through the opening and Nadia had to hold it in. The simple medical procedure necessary to save Nadia s life took place at one of three full-service medical clinics constructed by the Rescue Task Force. Located in remote Honduran villages, patients served by the ministry must first survive up to a six-day canoe paddle to receive the medical care they need. (Our) nonprofit alleviates suffering and provides developmental aid to those who have been marginalized by geography or economic deprivation, said Gary Becks, the 68-year-old president and founder of Rescue Task Force. We often go where others do not to help those outside the scope of conventional relief providers. Becks is anything but conventional. As a Vietnam medevac corpsman with the Third Marines, he was awarded seven Air Medals for outstanding performance in more than140 combat missions. As a civilian, Becks said his role as a San Bernardino County Fire Agency Battalion Commander helped pre- See RESCUE, page 10 For information about advertising, subscriptions, or bulk delivery, please call

2 2 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD Former San Diegans bring vital bicycle transportation to Africa By Lori Arnold SAN DIEGO Tiki Mambwe was grateful for his job as a bricklayer. As one of 11 new employees constructing a warehouse, Mambwe was, you could say, on the ground floor of a new social enterprise ministry that was manufacturing bikes to serve villagers in remote regions in Zambia. He had a huge smile on his face even when he was asked to clean the sewage out of the sewage pit, said Dustin McBride, one of the co-founders of Zambikes, a social enterprise ministry that was launched in 2007 after a universityled missions trip to the country in During that trip, McBride and Vaughn Spethmann, classmates at Azusa Pacific University, noticed a desperate need for quality, affordable bicycles the main mode of transportation in the landlocked, South African nation. When they returned to the United States, the pair drafted their first business plan for an en- Your high school teen daughter will: Each LiLi participant will be assigned a Christian mentor of common interest or field of interest. September through April Emmanuel Faith Community Church, Escondido (alternative Saturday afternoons) You can trust... San Diego s first Christian professional counseling center Specialized Psychotherapy Strategies for: Dustin McBride, co-founder of Zambikes, stands astride a mudspattered Zambike pulling a Zambulance. The mobile medical transportation unit was designed by Daryl Funk, left. trepreneur class at APU. The vision was to bolster the local economy A leadership program for Christian young ladies Learn with Intent to Lead with Integrity Rev. Donald W. Welch, Ph.D., LMFT MFC #50129 Owner / Director Skyline Church Counseling Pastor Professional Counseling Services Include: by manufacturing the bikes in the country, making them affordable enough to improve the lives of local pastors and small businesses. Three years later, Zambikes was up and running with the help of local residents Gershom Sikaala and Mwewa Chikamba, the majority owners, and McBride and Spethmann, who held minority ownership. A bike can enable a kid to go to school or a parent to get to a job in other parts of the city or in another village, said Tom Larson, executive director of Zambikes. A bike can enable a father to take a sick child to a clinic. Our bikes help healthcare workers see more clients and help pastors visit their parishioners. Bikes are also used to haul goods to market. Think of all the ways you use your car, and bikes are used for almost all those things in Africa. Zambikes, registered as a forprofit in Zambia, is supported by the separate Zambikes USA, a non-profit based in San Diego, where McBride and Spethmann were raised. Profits made in Zambia stay there to fund expansion of the social enterprise, while the San Diego ministry pays the administrative salaries. While McBride and Spethmann mastered the mechanics of drafting a business plan and the need for the bikes, they were acutely aware that the logistics of building them went far beyond their educational training. Through Larson, they were introduced to Daryl Funk, a high-end bike designer in Denver. They were both business majors, and they created the business plan as a project for one of their business classes, Larson said. While they both had very entrepreneurial minds, they knew nothing about building bikes. So Funk, whose custom bikes can fetch as much as $10,000 in the states, helped them create wheels with the right balance of sturdiness and value. Our bikes were specially designed to stand up to the rigors of African roads, Larson said. Compared to the cheap and junky bikes that are everywhere in Africa, our bikes feature stronger frames, double-walled rims and heavier gauge spokes. This makes them more rugged and more reliable. Although our bikes are a little more expensive, Africans are learning that they re worth the extra money because they ll hold up better. Expanding focus Over time, Zambikes expanded its offerings to include Zamcarts, bicycle cargo trailers, and bamboo bikes that use the organic material as tubes in the frames. The bamboo bikes, which are too expensive for the local markets but provide job security in Zambia, are exported to Japan and Europe. In all, Zambikes has sold more than 10,000 bicycles. Pulling a Zamcart, a man rides his Zambike home from the market. After spending the first few years focusing on the manufacturing and distributing of bicycles to the locals, McBride and his team became increasingly aware of an even more critical issue: the lack of basic medical transportation in rural Africa. (They) saw people being taken to clinics and hospitals in wheelbarrows, ox carts, on the back of a bicycle or carried on someone s back, Larson said. They also saw that next to many clinics in Africa is a cemetery for people who don t make it to the clinic in time. To fill the gap, Funk used his design skills to create the Zambulance, a locally built ambulance trailer that can be pulled behind any bicycle or motorcycle. We weld the frames, install the wheels and tires, and build the frames for the canopies that provide privacy and protection from the elements, Larson said. To date, Zambikes has sold more than 1,000 Zambulances to organizations like World Vision, Samaritan s Purse, Catholic Relief Services and Compassion International. Those organizations use the Zambulances in their own projects throughout Africa. Manufacturing dreams Even as the early vision of Zambikes was being fleshed out in the mottled streets of Zambia, bricklayer Mambwe was cultivating his own dream, one that extended far beyond the four warehouse walls he was helping to construct. Dustin, the laborer said to Mc- Bride, I think I can do marketing for our bicycles in the city. Can I try to be a marketer for Zambikes? McBride said he was skeptical, adding that it was common for local workers to be exuberantly enthusiastic but unqualified, for certain employment opportunities. I tried to be polite but did not give him a chance, McBride said. Even with that addictive smile, I knew that someone who grew up in the village outside the city could never get to the education level or have the ability to present in a suit with a PowerPoint to big organizations. But Mambwe was persistent, unwilling to settle for the gentle deflections McBride kept offering. I finally gave Tiki a chance after months of persistence, McBride said. He started as a marketer on a small stipend to run around and try and sell bicycles. Within five years, Mambwe was serving as Zambikes Sales and Partnership Manager. He now holds the World Vision account along with dozens of other big organizations that he coordinates, his proud boss said. He has been able to buy land, build a house and just had his first child with his new bride. Tiki is my brother. Watching him go from a bricklayer to manager and take the extra responsibility given seriously and apply himself has been one of the most rewarding testimonies and relationships for me. Similar stories have unfolded throughout the region since the advent of Zambikes. In April, just a day after an order of five Zambulances was delivered to Samaritan s Purse for its work in the northeastern corner of Uganda, one of the units was put to work. A woman from the village was giving birth and was not able to make the four-mile trek to the local hospital, McBride said. In those remote places, there is little to no means of transportation, unless you can walk. She was able to have a safe birth at the hospital with a skilled nurse attending to her needs. I am so thankful to be able to hear these stories and be a part of saving mothers and children s lives with the Zambulance. For more information, including how to sponsor a Zambulance, visit and www. zambikeszambia.com. integrating professional counseling with Christian principles for healthy living. Day, Evening, & Saturday Office Hours Family Consultation Services, Inc. Convenient locations to serve you: in collaboration with Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc. Insurance Welcome Call (619) Se Habla Español Pulled by motorcycles or bicycles, the Zambulance provides medical transportation to clinics and hospitals. Without this, transportation has been in wheelbarrows, ox carts, on the back of a bicycle or carried on someone s back. Built in Zambia, more than 1,000 have been sold to Christian relief organizations for use throughout Africa.

3 SD August 2013 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER 3 Happy 30th Birthday Since 1983 When something s been around as long as we have, it s a good idea to freshen things up once in a while. Coming this fall ChristianExaminer Refreshed.

4 4 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD Evangelism not reserved for just a select few Christ followers As a church, we face a huge challenge in taking the gospel to our generation. Technology is exploding before our very eyes, generating unprecedented opportunities. Doors are open for sharing the gospel that will not necessarily stay that way. Opportunities must be seized or lost forever. Billy Graham has said, The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. But we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities. We give God the glory for what He did in That was the greatest year in our evangelistic history. And we are praying and hoping that 2013 will be even greater. On Sept. 28 to 29 in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, we ll be conducting a Harvest Crusade that will be simulcast to thousands of host locations across the country. For what purpose? One message! The only message that can save Do biblical politics still apply to the American experience? Many question what the Bible has to do with politics. The better question is: why, after hundreds of years, is the Bible s relevance to politics now being ignored? Clearly, biblical truths describing the nature of mankind (Jeremiah 17:9) and defining the role of government (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15) guided our nation s founders while designing our constitutionalrrepublic. These men also benefited from the development of western political thought on natural law (Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-15), the nature of justice (Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Timothy 1:8-11) and individual rights (Galatians 5:13-15). The founders knew the Bible well, Publishers: Lamar & Theresa Keener Managing Editor: Lori Arnold Proofreading: Cassie LaFollette Advertising: Cynthia Quam-Patterson Calendar/Classifi eds: Brittany Keener Copyright 2013 Selah Media Group Greg Laurie a soul the simple proclamation of the gospel. Jesus told the story of a shepherd who had 100 sheep and one that went astray. What did the shepherd do? Did he say, Win a few, lose a few. Too bad? No, he left the 99 and went after that one sheep. You see, God doesn t just value multitudes; He values individuals. That s exactly why we invest so much time and energy in sharing the gospel and holding events like the Harvest America. The answer to America s problems is a spiritual one. We need to pray for our country like never before. And we need to reach out to a lost world with the gospel like never before. We need more people hearing about who Jesus is and what He promises. We need to get back to the true God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born in the manger, to die on the cross, and to rise from the dead three days later. We need a spiritual awakening. Charles Finney, who was part of one of America s great revivals, said, Revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God. A.W. Tozer defined understood our nation s dependence on God for survival and blessings (Romans 9:14-18) and knew a saving faith could not be forced on anyone against their will. But they also knew the Bible provided timeless principles and insight that could provide the foundation for a new form of governance with checks and balances mirroring the nature of God (Isaiah 33:22). To initiate the grand experience called the United States, only enumerated powers were granted to the federal government. On the other end of the spectrum the oftentimes fickle appetites of the citizenry were limited in making fundamental changes except through deliberative elective and The Christian Examiner, formerly known as the Christian Times and fi rst established in 1983, is an in depen dent Christian news pa per pub lished monthly by Selah Media Group with an audience of Evan gel i cal Christians. It is available in fi ve regional editions throughout Southern California and the Twin Cities. All our regional newspapers are available without charge at Christian book stores, churches, and Christian businesses. Mail sub scrip tions are $19.95/year. The com bined press run monthly is 150,000 copies. The Christian Examiner welcomes press releases and news of interest that is relevant to our readership. All unsolicited material is subject to the approval of the publishers and is not returned. Viewpoints expressed in the Christian Examiner are those of their respective writers, and are not necessarily held by the publishers. Advertising in the Christian Examiner is open to anyone desiring to reach the Christian community. Reasonable effort is made to screen potential advertisers, but no endorsement of the publishers is implied or should be inferred. The publishers can accept no responsibility for the products or services offered through ad ver tisements. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any ad ver tis ing. Deadline for submission of ad copy, calendar events, and articles is the 15th of the month preceding publication for the San Diego edition and the 18th for the other editions. Address all correspondence to: Christian Examiner, P. O. Box 2606, El Cajon, CA Phone (619) Fax: (619) Advertising and Bulk Delivery Information (619) or The answer to America s problems is a spiritual one. revival as That which changes the moral climate of a community. That is the kind of revival we need. Not just an emotional experience and not just a tingle down the backbone. We need to see God work, because our nation needs it like never before. The last great American revival was the Layman s Prayer Revival of It began with a 48-yearold businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier. He began a noon prayer meeting on Fulton Street in downtown New York. Lanphier handed out flyers to downtown businessmen, saying, Come to our prayer meeting when you are having a break for lunch. Persistent call Only a handful of people showed up. But Jeremiah persisted; and that handful of people kept meeting for prayer. Then something dramatic took place. The stock market crashed. Suddenly, the prayer meeting grew. People fell to their knees, and then the prayer meeting exploded. Prayer meetings were popping up quickly throughout New York City. Within six months, legal processes. In this construct, laws could be enacted by representatives that were consistent with the broad, biblically influenced moral conscience of the nation. Major changes in national direction, however, would be rare since it required significant, widespread pressure over a long period of time. With the federal government restrained in the breadth and depth of its power, and legal mechanisms in place to address grievances, a stable but challenging environment existed to support prosperity and allow aggressive promotion of new ideas in light of God s truth, reason, experience and facts. Now fast forward to the current generation. The federal government has irresponsibly expanded far beyond its enumerated powers in every direction. It creates new rights and calls them anything from entitlements to a woman s right to chose. It exercises regulatory control on virtually every detail of the economy and chooses who should win or lose through subsidies and preferential tax treatment. It uses compulsory public education as a means to promote values-free social engineering. It redistributes the nation s wealth by taking from the rich and giving to those it chooses. It seeks to control the entire health care industry in order to manage virtually every life and death decision. It denies individual states the right to defend themselves from cross-border invaders; uses tax revenue to subsidize regimes and ineffective social programs around the world; and it even acts as the world s policeman in conflicts not of our making. In other countries this type of power grab is recognized for what it Frank Kacer is: a creeping tyranny that results from a statist, autocratic, ungodly worldview. But wait, not only is federal power far beyond anything our founders intended, but there s also a very disturbing second development: the creation of a huge, permanently government-dependent underclass. Web of dependency The number of people who expect the government to meet their needs has mushroomed. God s common grace was once well understood as the source of blessings that result from hard work, personal responsibility and moral virtue. But now the government has created widespread reliance on its benevolence for the price of unthinking, political loyalty. Although this trend has existed for many years, the sheer magnitude of people now caught in this web of dependency ensures the continued growth and abuse of federal power. Since both developments are destructive to what made our nation prosperous, distinctive and exceptional, continuing down this path can only end in our collapse (Proverbs 14:12). So, who are the real patriots and defenders of our national experiment? Is it those elected leaders that ignore their accountability to an almighty God (Psalm 53:1) and pander to mankind s sinful, selfish nature? Is it those that want everything paid for by someone else? Is it those that want to throw away our Christian heritage and time-tested biblical understanding of morality, economics and justice? Unfortunately, our nation is losing its desire for righteousness 10,000 people were gathering for prayer in New York City alone. They were renting venues that Broadway normally used and packing them out at lunch time with men and women who were calling on the name of the Lord. Fifty thousand New Yorkers reportedly came to know the Lord from March to May. During that single year, the number of reported conversions throughout the country reached an average of 50,000 a week for about two years. Even a notorious criminal nicknamed Awful Gardner shocked everyone when he came to Christ through the prayer meetings. When it was all over, one million people had come to faith. No one orchestrated that revival in New York. It wasn t a campaign planned by people. It was a work of God where He poured out His Spirit. Revival is a work of the Holy Spirit; it s not something we can make happen. Revival is God s responsibility. It s what God does for us. But listen to this: Evangelism is what we do for God. Preaching the gospel is our responsibility. Christ commissioned us to go into the world and spread the Good News. Proper focus We cannot make a revival happen, but we can make evangelism happen. We can start those conversations. We can share the love of Christ. We can invite friends to participate in Harvest America. So let s pray for God to do a great work of revival in our country, but let s do our part. The root of the problem is that people are separated from God. And the way to change a culture is to invade it. It is to go out where people don t typically hear the gospel, enter their world and tell them about Jesus Christ. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things you can do is tell others about Jesus. This message God has given us was meant to be shared, not hoarded. You were blessed to be a blessing. When you do not share, you begin to stagnate; when you do, you revive. God doesn t want you to share the gospel out of mere duty, but with joy and passion. The seed you sow today could turn into a tremendous harvest later. Remember, the Word of God will not return void, but it will prosper in the place where He sends it. Laurie is founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside and both the Harvest Crusade and Harvest America evangelistic outreaches. For more information, visit www. harvestamerica.com. (Proverbs 14:34) and is suffering the predicable consequences (Proverbs 16:18). History and truth As in the biblical days of Issachar and in our founder s day, true patriots understand the evil of the times and know what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). True patriots are those whose worldview allows them to see and understand evil for what it is, not based on man s fickle selfish desires, political gain, post-modernism, relativism or any other ism. It s based on God s timeless standard of right and wrong that s ignored at one s own peril (Proverbs 29:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). True patriots know what s consistent with the conscience God has given to each of us, and won t get caught up in the shallowness of our self-destructive popular culture or follow well meaning but horribly misguided leadership. History is on the side of the biblical truth of God. But like any noble effort, it clearly takes time and wisdom to apply it to the practical political issues of the day. Have there been abuses in the use of God s Word in the past of course there have. But that doesn t invalidate its trustworthiness and applicability to all matters, whether public or private, as so many throughout the ages can attest to. Kacer is founder of the Christian Citizenship Council and writes the Biblical Politics column for Washington Times Communities. Follow on #BiblicalPolitics or hotmail.com. Mark Larson s monthly column will return next issue

5 SD August 2013 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER 5 No standard: Doing what is right in their own eyes For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. -- Genesis 2:24, NIV The problem for people who believe in an Authority higher even than the Constitution is that in our increasingly secular and indifferent society it has become more difficult to persuade those who do not subscribe to an immutable standard to accept that view. It is nearly impossible to restrain a people intent on throwing off any and all restraints. History is full of examples of empires that collapsed from within before they were conquered from without. The Supreme Court has narrowly, but effectively, removed another standard on the way to full acceptance of its right to redefine marriage and raise itself to a level higher than the Creator. Cal Thomas What or who is to stop them? Various religious-political groups formed over many years to confront cultural erosion are in retreat and increasingly ineffective. Modern courts might have trouble with Thomas Jefferson s declaration, We hold these truths to be selfevident. Is there anything that is self-evident today and not subject to challenge given the right circumstances? Even a secular person should be required to answer a question before removing such an important cultural underpinning as traditional marriage: If marriage is no longer to be reserved for one man and one woman, as it has for millennia in many different cultures and religions, what is the new standard and on what is it based? Should we change America s motto to in polls we trust? The New York Times recently editorialized in favor of transgender rights. Polygamist groups have made it known they wish to be next in line to enjoy full constitutional protection for their lifestyle. Utah was forced to outlaw polygamy before admission to the Union. Can it, should it, revert to its previous practice and who has the authority to say no? There are people who favor sex and marriage between adults and children. On what basis should they be denied their right to happiness? Today s that goes too far easily becomes tomorrow s right with a morally vacuous media leading the charge and a morally exhausted people who are afraid to say stop, for fear they ll be labeled bigots. Boundaries serve a purpose, in sport and in life. Fences keep out trespassers and protect children on playgrounds. Governments impose speed limits. Lines define a football field. The problem faced by moral-political forces -- from Prohibition, to abortion and now same-sex marriage -- is that they are confronted by growing numbers of people who do not believe in, or can be persuaded by, ancient, even biblical, instruction constraining human behavior. Many young people whose parents are divorced, or who are cohabiting without marriage, are not influenced by such commands or preaching. While the Supreme Court s 5-4 decision overturning the Defense Eric Metaxas of Marriage Act does not establish a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, that s where it seems headed. Justice Antonin Scalia predicted it would a decade ago when the Supreme Court invalidated laws prohibiting homosexual conduct in Lawrence v. Texas. One doesn t have to approve of the Court s reasoning in order to hand it to the gay rights campaigners. They have done a magnificent job advancing their objectives, but they couldn t have done it alone. A verse from the Old Testament warns about the detrimental effects such advances can have on individuals and nations that abandon moral boundaries: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. -- Judges 17:6, NIV 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Psychic cost: How much do you pay for the news? I remember years ago Chuck Colson did a BreakPoint commentary on a book called How the News Makes Us Dumb. I ll tell you what else the news can do to you. How much do you pay to watch or read the news every day? I m not talking about your cable bill, or your subscription to the Wall Street Journal or your local paper. I m talking about what my BreakPoint colleague and friend Roberto Rivera calls the psychic cost of watching the news. I m guessing you can imagine the following scenario: You re home from work (or you ve just put the kids to bed) and you switch on the television. The cable news program you decided to watch is breaking down the recent Supreme Court decision on marriage. Then comes the latest video filled with blood and carnage from somewhere in the Middle East. Oh, and now you learn that California is on the verge of passing a bill to mandate that schools let transgendered children choose which bathroom they want to use. the accumulation of bad moral, political, and economic news sends you into a funk you are tempted to dispair. So, how are you feeling? Angry? Do you find yourself talking back to the TV? The kids are making noise upstairs when they should be going to sleep and perhaps your frustration at the news spills over and you end up barking Be quiet up there! a little louder and less pleasantly than you wanted. Worse yet, the accumulation of bad moral, political, and economic news sends you into a funk. You begin thinking that the country, the culture, and everything you hold dear are heading south for good. You are tempted to despair. Then there are the physical costs of stressing out over the news. In an article at the Huffington Post about managing news-induced stress, psychologist Deborah Rozman had this to say: Continuously amping up negative emotions releases excessive levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline throughout the body... We may not sleep as well, feel confused and tired or on edge, have brain fog, and our immune system may become suppressed. The long-play version of this can cause a cascade of physical health symptoms including headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, stress eating, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, panic attacks, depression, and insomnia chronic modern diseases. Yikes. Okay, so what can we do? First of all, I am not suggesting you don t watch or read the news. It s wise to know what s happening with the economy or with health care. We all need to keep up with what s happening in government, the schools and in the culture at large, and we should. But let me propose a few simple things. First of all: Scale back. Limit the time you spend in front of the TV or computer screen. Very few stories, despite what the networks tell you, are truly urgent. Here s a thought: take a sabbatical from the news... every Sunday. Or if Sunday doesn t work, pick another day of the week, and stick to it. Second: if you feel yourself stressing out over the news, stop and go do something physical instead. Grab the kids and shoot some hoops. Take a walk. Weed the garden or head to the pool. Or third, and better yet, step away and pray. As Chuck Colson would say, if anything, the news shouldn t drive us crazy, it should drive us to our knees. There is a reason Paul told us in Philippians 4 to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, do not despair. Keep your perspective! Jesus promised us we would have trials and tribulations in this world, but He also told us He has overcome the world. And that s good news Prison Fellowship. Metaxas is the voice of Breakpoint, a radio commentary, formerly featuring the late Chuck Colson. CHILD CUSTODY & Support Law Office of Patrick L. McCrary ~ 34 YEARS OF FAMILY LAW EXPERIENCE Also handling Divorce and Property Division Named by the San Diego Daily Transcript as a San Diego County Top Attorney 2008 (619) W. MADISON, EL CAJON

6 6 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD Churches urged to protect themselves in light of Prop. 8 ruling By Lori Arnold SAN DIEGO As same-sex marriages have resumed up and down the state by order by of California Gov. Jerry Brown, evangelical leaders are urging churches to prepare for increasing discrimination against their biblical beliefs. I think that the church needs to understand that these recent developments are not the end game in this ongoing saga, said Pastor Chris Clark of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church, one of the pastors behind the Proposition 8 campaign. Any person who thought that this ordeal was solely about redefining marriage by removing the gender requirement is gravely underestimating what all is at stake. Clark, like many others involved in 2008 s successful passage of the statewide constitutional amendment declaring marriage as only between one man and one woman, said he believes that Brown and his administration have misinterpreted June s U.S. Supreme Court decision. In that ruling, the nation s highest court vacated the 9 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determination that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, while leaving intact the original district court ruling that also declared the law unconstitutional. But state law prohibits a district court judge from invalidating a constitutional amendment, requiring that such an order must come from an appeals court. As a result, Proposition 8 proponents believe that the district court ruling s nixing the measure only applies to the two plaintiffs in the case. Brown, Bridges In Home Care LLC Specializing in Companionship, Care Giving, LVN Care Hospice Care and End of Life Care Liberty Charter High School Our goal is to create and equip the leaders of tomorrow however, wasted no time for a determination, instead issuing an immediate edict to allow same-sex marriages to begin. As a result, Protect Marriage, the coalition behind Proposition 8, has filed paperwork with the California Supreme Court challenging the latest round of same-sex marriages and, although the court has agreed to review the request, it refused to stop the marriages in the interim. In another late development, San Diego County Clerk Ernie Dronenburg Jr. filed a petition with the state Supreme Court July 19 seeking an injunction against same-sex marriages. In his filing, prepared by Charles LiMandri, president and chief counsel of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund in Rancho Santa Fe, Dronenburg maintains he s in legal limbo because state law and Brown s edict are at odds. With every passing day, Petitioner remains in an unsustainable position, the document reads. One the one hand, Respondents (Brown and State Attorney General Kamala Harris) have ordered him not to enforce state law and are threatening to punish him if he does not comply with that order. On the other hand, Petitioner has an independent constitutional and statutory obligation to enforce California law defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman. As the courts determine what action, if any, they will take, Clark said he believes it s only a matter of time before homosexual advocates begin encroaching either on church property or upon pastoral rights. I would not be surprised to see an effort to compel churches to let their All employees are screened, bonded and insured Serving all of San Diego County Contact us today for your caregiver needs Call Bridging Quality Care with Your Peace of Mind Grades 9-12 No Tuition Small School Strong Academics Leadership Literacy Technology ENROLL NOW Call Today Located in Lemon Grove 8425 Palm Street Amending church bylaws and articles of faith Evangelical churches are being advised to update their congregational bylaws and statements of faith in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8. The process for doing so varies by congregation and should be included in the existing bylaws. It is imperative that churches precisely follow the guidelines contained in their bylaws. Robert Tyler, general counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom, recommends that churches revise their definitions of marriage, male and female and to articulate the church s doctrinal perspective on same-sex marriage and homosexuality. The bylaws themselves will typically already include provisions for revising the bylaws. Those terms must be precisely followed to be effective. Advocates for Faith & Freedom also offers sample amendments for churches to include on these subjects, as well as pro bono reviews on church bylaws as it pertains to same-sex marriage. Kevin Snider, chief counsel for Pacific Justice Institute, said that in light of the Supreme Court decision, it is important that pastors take steps to protect the theological integrity of the church as it relates to marriage ceremonies, counseling and other related activities, such as use of church facilities, employees and membership. Chuck LiMandri, president and chief counsel of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, said there are two main areas in which the religious liberties of church and Christians will be impacted by samesex marriage: civil liability through lawsuits and the denial of government benefits and privileges. LiMandri highlights the issues in depth in the three- disc set Good-Bye Religious Liberty? How the Attacks on Marriage are Threatening Your Religious Freedom. Resource links Advocates for Faith and Freedom: Pacific Justice Institute: Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund: Alliance Defending Freedom: facilities be used for such purposes, or else face the loss of tax-exempt status due to discrimination, the Baptist pastor said. If Sacramento is trying to take the tax-exempt status away from non-profit organizations if they are discriminatory, can the church be too far away? Clark is referring to Senate Bill 323, a measure that some have termed as an enemy tax because it would strip the tax-exempt status of all charitable youth organizations that ban homosexuals, regardless of their religious beliefs. The bill has already passed through the Senate and was scheduled for an Aug. 12 hearing before the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. Jack Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, said he believes that it is impossible for samesex marriage to be imposed upon a Bible-believing church. Traditional views on marriage are based on Scripture, views that are being maligned at all levels of government, in the media, by pop culture and even other church leaders, he said. But every Biblebelieving pastor already knows what he must do if that day arrives. We ll obey God s law before we ever obey any man or government that is contrary to God s clear revelation. Incremental losses LiMandri said he foresees incremental encroachments on religious liberty. For example, in Hawaii, pastors are not yet required to perform same-sex marriages, but they are required by law to let gay and lesbian couples use their churches for that purpose. At least for the interim, experts say that evangelical churches can protect themselves by updating their bylaws and statements of faith by clearly outlining their beliefs on marriage. Alliance Defending Freedom, a network of more than 2,000 affiliated religious freedom attorneys, offers free policy samples to churches. Kevin Snider, chief counsel for the Pacific Justice Institute, which also specializes in religious freedom cases, said his Sacramento-based organization has also developed a package for churches that includes a cover letter, a model marriage policy and sample language for bylaws. Our legal department is willing to review the bylaws and assist with this process upon request on a pro bono basis, he said. Robert Tyler, general counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom, said in addition to updating bylaws and faith statements, churches need to be attuned to how their entire congregations operate. In order to avoid being designated as a place of public accommodation, churches must be cautious by not operating in a fashion that looks more like a business than a ministry, the Murrieta attorney said. For example, churches that rent their facilities to the public for weddings will probably be told that they can t deny renting to same-sex couples because they are renting their facilities for profit purposes. Large churches that have their own coffee shop or bookstore may be told by a court that those areas of ministry appear to be more like a business and subject to nondiscrimination laws. Each of the attorneys said the most pressing threat will likely come to Christian-owned businesses serving in the wedding industry, including florists, printers, bakeries, hotels and photographers. Lawsuits against such vendors have already been filed across the country. This is the situation even though others have been willing and available to perform those services to homosexuals in almost all cases, LiMandri said. In many cases, state anti-discrimination laws have been more favorable to the homosexuals than Christians in determining the result of these cases. This is because once their immoral sexual behavior becomes legitimized by the law which is the real reason why they want same-sex marriage then the law is used by them, not as a shield to protect their rights, but as a sword to strike down the rights of Christians. Make no mistake about it, gay activists who want same-sex marriage will no longer tolerate the non-acquiescence of the churches. Rather, they are using the law with a vengeance to try to force the churches to bow to their ungodly agenda. Bearing responsibility Both Clark and Hibbs said they believe the church bears some responsibility for the cultural clash over the definition of marriage. For some, it s been easier to remain uninformed about the culture war raging in our courts, schools and government, but it is now knocking at the church door, Hibbs said. It s as if we ve handed over the keys of the city to the mayor of Sodom and Gomorrah, and many churches have remained silent. It s just a matter of time before they re knocking down the church door or forcing their beliefs upon the church by threat or intimidation. Clark said he believes the solution centers on sincere repentance by Christians. I believe God is waiting for the church to repent, he said, citing Colossians 2:8. The church has remained silent for far too long on too many issues, allowing the empty philosophy of this present world to dictate the standards of right and wrong. That repentance, he warned, goes well beyond the changing of minds. It is a changing of our ways, the San Diego pastor said. So when we stand up to the powers that be and maintain God s definition of marriage, we are repenting. When we stand up and point out to the world that ripping a baby out of the womb is murder, we are repenting. When we stand up and call the church to reclaim its role as the conscience of the country and the country s government, we are repenting. Looking ahead As the threat to churches advances, Clark said it would be wise for churches to build up their small group ministries, especially if congregations find themselves losing their tax-exempt status. Would every church be able to hold on to their property were they forced to pay taxes, especially if they are paying a mortgage? What would happen to our churches in that event? Clarke posed. That is where the health and strength of a church s small group ministries is crucial. Even if the church were to lose its property, the small groups would continue; and if the church s small groups continue, the church will continue. So that one ministry becomes critically vital going forward. LiMandri said such predictions should not be dismissed as hyperbole, adding that churches that remain faithful to God s Word will be increasingly viewed as enemies of the state. We are entering a post-christian era in which faithful Christians will be called upon to be either courageous saints in defense of their faith or cowardly traitors to it, LiMandri said. There will no longer be any middle ground in which to hide. The fate of our nation and, more importantly, our immortal souls, hangs in the balance. May God grant us the courage and strength of the early Christians who converted the pagan Roman empire. Inland Empire pastor Hibbs said he is prepared for the battle. The U.S. Supreme Court can redefine whatever they want, but nothing will change what God has established, he said. His Word is eternal.

7 SD August 2013 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER 7 MISSIONARY Continued from page 1 By Lori Arnold ENCINITAS The attorney representing several Christian families who are seeking to remove yoga instruction in the Encinitas Union School District plans to appeal a judge s ruling allowing the classes. Dean Broyles, of the National Center for Law and Policy, said he believes Judge John Meyer erred in determining that school officials had removed enough of the religious overtones to warrant their use as exercise. We showed that the district only made cosmetic changes to the program after parents complained and the lawsuit was filed, Broyles said. Neither the court nor the district is sufficiently theologically trained to be able to competently make the determination that EUSD s religious yoga program is not Hindu enough or religious enough, especially when we are dealing with the religious indoctrination of impressionable young children by the state. Broyles filed the suit on behalf of his clients after the district accepted a $500,000 grant from the Jois Foundation to present Ashtanga yoga to the students. In his ruling, Meyer discounted the concerns of parents, suggesting at one point that parents had based much of their concern, not on actual circumstances, but on Internet searches. It s almost like a trial by Wikipedia, the judge said. At the same time, Meyer called the relationship between the Jois Foundation and the school district troublesome, adding that he believed the foundation was on a mission to get yoga into the school curriculum. Broyles believes it s not possible to partially remove the Hindu influences from yoga, even if the names of the stretches are secularized. Our legal team worked very Pastor Alexander John, of India Christian Fellowship in Poway, addresses the congregation during a family retreat last year. John also helps to pastor a church in Los Angeles. Dr. T. Valson Abraham, founding pastor of the Los Angeles congregation, since 2000, began the San Diego church as an outgrowth of India Christian Assembly. Ten years ago, God opened a door in San Diego for us to minister to the Indian community, he said. Initially, a few families met once a month to pray and seek God s will. As the Lord began to send more people, our gatherings became semimonthly. God added many to the church over the years, and there are now 30 families in our fellowship. They include many who came to know Jesus Christ from various backgrounds such as Hinduism and Catholicism. After floating from home to home for worship, prayer and fellowship, the fellowship has, for the past three years, been holding regular services from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays at a local church. As the Lord blessed us in number, we approached many area churches in San Diego to rent a place, he said. After years of prayer and searching, the Lord opened a door at the Community Church of Poway. Services are conducted in English and several Indian languages. Because San Diego s Indian population is so spread out, an integral part of the ministry involves small group Bible studies in Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo and Sabre Springs. The church also sponsors monthly youth meetings. Our vision is to reach every Indian person in Southern California with the gospel, John said. We aim to reach them through personal evangelism and building relationships. We have special outreaches during Christmas and Easter that draw many non-christian families to hear the gospel message. Many Appeal expected in San Diego yoga case hard and presented overwhelming evidence that the district s yoga program was religious and has no place in the public schools, he said. Specifically, we showed at trial that the district was unconstitutionally promoting Hindu religious beliefs and practices and had excessively entangled itself with a religious organization. In fact, this yoga case represents the clearest case of government religious promotion and religious entanglement I have ever seen in my 18 years of practice as a constitutional attorney. The attorney added that apprehension over religion in school appear to be morphing into concern only when it applies to Christianity. This ruling highlights a hypocritical double-standard when it comes to Establishment Clause court decisions, Broyles said. Christian beliefs and practices, such as prayer, are forbidden, while the beliefs and practices of other politically correct religions such as Islam and Hinduism are permitted. Religious freedom is not for sale. The state must never be authorized to pick religious winners and losers. The ruling, if allowed to stand, sets a dangerous precedent that states spiritual tyranny is acceptable. Beyond the legal question of yoga in schools, Broyles said there is an even broader, more disconcerting issue at play. For me, personally, one of the most disturbing aspects of working on this case is realizing how ignorant the American Christian church is regarding the pervasively religious nature of yoga and how many Christians have become spiritually compromised on the issue. For more information on the case, including a Yoga Fact Sheet developed by Broyles, visit www. nclplaw.org. of our Hindu friends send their children to attend our summer VBS programs. Snare of materialism Unlike India, where millions are cast aside because of a lack of wealth and persistent fears of persecution, John said one of their biggest hindrances to ministry in Southern California is materialism. In sharing the gospel, we are finding that with increased affluence comes increasing apathy towards spiritual matters, he said. Having our members scattered throughout the city is sometimes a hindrance. We desire to have a permanent place of our own so that we would not have to keep moving around. Having access to our own facility throughout the week will enable us to be more effective with San Diego s Indian demographics as provided by India Christian Fellowship of San Diego: percent (336,091) of San Diego County s population is Asian. The county s estimated Indian population is 20,000 to 25,000. The population is expanding rapidly to accommodate employment demands by high tech companies such as Qualcomm, Sony and Yahoo. There are at least 30 Indian restaurants in and around San Diego. There are more than two dozen Hindu temples and Gurdwaras, Sikh worship centers, in San Diego. For more information, visit or call (562) WASC Children from India Christian Fellowship enjoy each other during the congregation s annual Vacation Bible School. our outreach goals. John said he s been pleasantly surprised by how his ministry here has continued to bless others in his native India. We have a member who is a physician, the pastor said. He comes from a high-caste Hindu family and was introduced to Christ while in medical school. His mother was a recipient of a high civilian honor in India. God has used him to share the gospel with his family members in India. These individuals would usually not be easily reachable with the gospel. Draw of Hinduism While the persecution threat is greatly reduced over what is experienced in India, the pastor said Hindu influences are still a concern. The Hindu community, too, is very active in establishing their temples and yoga studios here, he said. They bring over many gurus and priests from India to keep their people in faith. What is unfortunate is that many Americans are swayed by these New Age teachings. CIF NCAA For more information, call Foothills Christian High School Even so, John said the transforming power of Jesus Christ is evident among his flock as they develop an increased passion to reach others for Christ. We are seeing a hunger for God and a greater dependence on Him, he said. When a family encounters a crisis situation, the church responds in prayer and support. It is encouraging to see individuals drawing closer to God in prayer. Enlarge your territory. Support a church-planting evangelist to one of the 5,187 unreached groups in Asia for $25 per month. asiaharvest.org Mention this ad and new students receive $75 off of their registration fee.

8 8 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD TEEN GIRLS Continued from page 1 lems and the help I didn t get from the churches we were in brought me into a youth leadership role, she said. Six years ago Hassell and her husband joined Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, where she teaches a Bible study for women. As much as she enjoys teaching her peers, Hassell said her passion for teen girls refused to ebb. As culture has changed exponentially this last decade, and as I have watched my daughters bring up my five granddaughters, I have seen a need to do what I could to give some spiritual guidance to high school girls, she said. Youth make decisions between the ages of 13 to 19 that can ruin or enhance their life, she said. So this past spring, with the blessing of her church leaders, Hassell launched Learn with Intent to Lead with Integrity, a Christian leadership program for girls. In LILI we concentrate on character traits like self-motivation, thinking of others and the values for young ladies Proverbs 31 talks about, she said. We teach them to make decisions on character before they are in a temptation situation. Accountability, honor and compassion are high on the list. The program operates every other Saturday afternoon from September to April. The meetings include biblically based lessons, sometimes with guest speakers. Mentoring is also a prominent element, with each girl paired with a fully vetted adult from Emmanuel Faith. Our biggest goal is to make each Tessa Sieger, shows off a scrapbook, one of a variety of craft projects offered through LILI. girl s faith solid and her own, Hassell said. Practical lessons Hassell said she developed the concept after hearing about a similar program in the South Bay that targets at-risk girls by focusing on scholastics. There was a need for all teen girls in our area to learn what it means to solidify their faith as their own, set their own boundaries, learn to apply godly woman values, morals and principles to every area of their lives, she said, adding that the teens also discuss practical life skills such as time and money management, discernment in trust and how to be strong enough to withstand the worldly pressures now and in the future. While Hassell takes seriously her mission to develop the teens into mature Christian women, she said the program makes room for fun and humor. After having two daughters and five granddaughters, I have realized they all are so different, she said. I love all the quirks, humor, outlooks and continuously pray for their futures. Some teen girls are so mature for their age and some still so innocent. Some are so serious, and some are so frivolous. Some are so compliant and some need the explanation of why. Each one has wonderful redeeming qualities, and none I have encountered would I consider hopeless. God has a specific plan for each, and I, hopefully with my helpers, find the paths to guide each girl down theirs. Don t give up Hassell said she believes Christian parents can make a grave mistake by not being intentional in their child s religious education. Faith in a child doesn t just morph from parent to child, she said. The statistics are grim of children growing up in Christian homes walking away from their faith after high school or college. That is one big reason I firmly believe they must be a big investment of our time and care. She also cautions adult believers against writing off the next generation of young people. So many Christians had rather be boiled in oil than spend time with teens, she said. As long as we are on this earth drawing God s good breath, we are here for a purpose designed by God Himself. No creation of God s is beyond redemption. Each person is a loved child of God worthy of a committed Christian s care and concern. How can we say this about a generation that we have fostered and have been responsible for rearing? Membership for the program costs $150 annually and includes supplies, journals and messenger logo bags. For more information, including how to sponsor a teen, send an to or call (760) Monthly networking program seeks to link local musicians By Lori Arnold SAN DIEGO One Sunday night a month the sanctuary at St. Stephen s Church of God in Christ in Encanto is transformed into a trifecta of worship, karaoke and industry mentoring thanks to Third Sunday Networking. The project is sponsored by MAN- DATE Records, an 18-year-old ministry that promotes gospel music, and Topicmedia, a para-church ministry founded by Greg and Glenn McKinney, sons of Bishop George McKinney, senior pastor at St. Stephen s. This event is a twist on a monthly church event held at a church I attended as a teenager, said Terri Fowler, publicist for MANDATE, an acronym for Making a Necessary Difference at the End. The third Sunday of each month was ministry through music, and members would submit the names of songs along with the individual they wanted to sing it. So you never knew if your name would be called and had the option to refuse the request, but usually everyone would participate gladly. In keeping with MANDATE s vision of promoting the industry, the community-oriented Third Sunday goes a step further than the program Fowler remembers from her youth. This event allows that same level of participation, but there are instructions and advice from industry experts to assist new entertainers, artists and musicians (on) how to further their ambitions and interest in gospel music, she said, describing it as worship beyond boundaries, worship beyond denomination, worship beyond your expectation. Each program usually features a professional group or individual and an unsigned or amateur artist who perform. In addition, an industry expert is on hand to present a topic of interest to help the artists better their craft. The event concludes with a reception. Fowler said the program was launched as a way to bring the body of Christ together to celebrate our gifts and talents. We want to break down all and any walls that present themselves as barriers or roadblocks for these artists so they can become skilled, empowered and knowledgeable about this industry, she said, adding that another goal of the program is to promote cross-culturalism. I once heard it said that America is never more segregated during the week than on a Sunday morning, Fowler said. The observation took into account that most church congregations are comprised of one major nationality or other. But as a body of baptized believers we are all one family. Long-term, she hopes the monthly event will become a resource hub for the city and beyond, which is one of the aspirations of MANDATE. We simply want to bring the structure and standards back into the forefront regarding our message in music and the lives of those individuals who perform gospel music, she said. Admission to the event is free and open to all denominations. The church is located at 5825 Imperial Ave. For more information, visit www. mandaterecords.com or call (858)

9 SD August 2013 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER 9

10 10 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD RESCUE Continued from page 1 pare him for creating a task force. After cashing out his retirement in 1988, Becks said he had the seed money necessary to start his rescue ministry. Assembling resources from a variety of individuals and corporations, the task force began working with the Contra war refugees that flooded into Honduras after spiritual attacks on churches in Nicaragua. The Sandinistas had confiscated Bibles to use as toilet paper and for rolling cigarettes, so RTF started taking Miskito language Bibles to the village pastors who could read and write. The church is the focal point of the village, and the people are strong Christians, Becks said. If anything, they would evangelize us. Serving local ministries Whether confronting calamities caused by the Sandinistas, wildfires in San Diego where the ministry was based before relocating to Inland Empire or a tsunami in Thailand, Rescue Task Force always works alongside a local church. Other organizations contribute supplies. After the Moore, Okla. tornado in May, Becks said the ministry worked through World Emergency Relief to get containers of supplies moving the very next day: 4,176 bottles of water and 4,488 Meals Ready to Eat along with other necessities such as 3,700 pairs of shoes, 2,400 masks, 1,600 lunch kits, 1,300 work gloves, 960 brooms, 320 blankets and 200 tents. Becks said that in such a disaster, even though a family may have money wallets, credit or debit cards everything that might meet their immediate needs is gone. During those first few days after a tragic event a family or individual may find themselves with nothing. So the task force provides numerous gift cards and cash to meet all types of needs. During various disasters they ve also met such unique needs as finding a pair of size 52 pants for a man who was dressed only in his underwear and acquiring a wheelchair for an elderly, overweight woman, who d been separated from hers. RTF well knows the difference a wheelchair can make. Becks said they frequently work with Free Wheelchair Mission to supply wheelchairs, in the name of Jesus. Free Wheelchair Mission ships the chairs to a seaport where groups like Rescue Task Force pick them up and distribute them throughout the region. RTF has distributed more than 5,000 wheelchairs in El Salvador and more than 6,000 in Cambodia, where land mines and polio still claim 300 new victims each year many of them children. Maximizing relief efforts As much as possible the ministry recruits local volunteers for its teams. In Honduras, the Ministry of Health is so grateful for Rescue Task Force s work, Becks said they ve agreed to staff 10 full-service clinics, creating an interlocking network placing all of the villagers of the Miskito Coast jungle within one day s canoe paddle of a facility. To motivate health care professionals to live and work in some of the extremely remote villages, Rescue Task Force sometimes offers a bonus. The clinics are built in the center Disabled children and adults must either crawl on the ground or be carried to move around without a wheelchair. Not only do wheelchairs bring joy to the individuals who receive them, but they also bless their family, friends and community. of village areas on land donated by the Indians, who also contribute much of the construction labor, including cutting the mahogany trees in the jungle. RTF ships in the remaining materials such as cement, rebar and roofing material. In addition, they provide equipment such as exam tables and pediatric scales, shipping everything from the United States. Becks said the cargo is shipped to Puerto Lempira, where it s then loaded onto a power boat or hired canoes and transported through the jungle to the clinic site. Stalled project Despite steady progress, the ministry s fourth clinic remains stalled due to a lack of funds, which has proven problematic for more than just the residents. Hazardous rains, for instance, can even prevent their own team from making the arduous trip out of the area. On one trip Becks said he became so concerned about snakes and medical emergencies that he gave the volunteers the option to leave a day early to take a less hazardous route home. The entire team decided to stay. The next morning, a family arrived at the clinic after paddling for four days. The father carried in his 16-year-old son in a hammock. A fly had laid larvae in his eye, which eventually displaced his eyeball. The boy needed more help than the clinic could offer, so the medical professionals immobilized him, dressed his eye and gave him pain meds. They carried him all the way to our rendezvous point, got him on a plane to Tegucigalpa, then to an eye doctor, Becks said. A month later when Rescue Task Force went back on another mission, they escorted the boy home. With a new glass eye, he was ready to live a full and normal life a good example of Becks mantra: The difficult we do immediately; sometimes the impossible takes a few days. For more information, visit www. rescuetaskforce.org. Helping obtain Social Security disability benefits for claimants throughout Southern California DENIED DISABILITY? Social Security Disability and SSI Joseph F. Massa, J.D. Social Security Disability Advocate Holy Ghost Explosion, Part VI Breaking Up The Fallow Ground! When The Spirit Moves Matter Happens! Joel 2:28-32; Jeremiah 4:3 (Fallow Ground) August 2-4, 2013 Closing Service August 3:30 p.m. Featuring: Minister Rosemary Saffold & God s Team International Rosemary is the Visionary for GOD s Team Gatekeepers International Ministries, Inc. The ministry is designed to be a vehicle for the Holy Spirit to heal, deliver, encourage and empower the body of Christ. Bethel Memorial AME Church 3085 K Street, San Diego, CA Rev. Anthony L. Hughes, Senior Pastor

11 SD August 2013 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER 11 Annual Harvest America honors biblical mandate to share the gospel By Lori Arnold RIVERSIDE Even as hundreds of staff and volunteers prepare for the Sept. 28 and 29 national Harvest America campaign, evangelist Greg Laurie is reminding Christians of the mandate to spread the gospel. We may think the work of evangelism is only for those who are called to be evangelists, he said. Granted, there are people in the church whom God has raised up to be evangelists, and certainly evangelism is not limited to those who preach to hundreds or thousands at a time. I have seen many individual believers who obviously have this gift. He stressed the call to evangelism is not limited to Matthew 28:19-20, but is also found in Proverbs 11:30 and Daniel 12:3. I believe that God wants to use all of us to bring people to Himself, said Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside. Laurie, who founded the Harvest Crusade stadium events in 1990 and will host the annual Anaheim gathering on Aug. 23 to 25, established its counterpart Harvest America last year as a way to broaden the reach of the crusades through high definition simulcasts. Last year s inaugural one-night event in Anaheim brought together 306,000 people at 2,400 host locations across the country. This year s campaign will be broadcast from Philadelphia. Harvest America can be a catalyst for a believer to utilize in his or her evangelistic efforts, he said. After all, there are a lot of unbelievers who won t go to church when Christians invite them. Something about the idea of going to church intimidates them. When you invite them to a theater, coffee house or living room, however, they are more likely to go with you. But whatever the motive an unbeliever may have for coming to a Harvest Crusades event, they will hear the gospel. In order for the concept to work, however, Harvest America is counting on local churches to host viewings. In addition to satellite technology, the crusade will also be broadcast on the Internet. Any congregation is welcome to participate in Harvest America, Laurie said. This event is from the church, for the church, to build up the church. By that, I mean the objective of this event is not to grow the Harvest brand, or to build up any particular denomination or to pursue any agenda other than the simple proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our objective is to spiritually build up the local church in any given community. We would be delighted to hear that local congregations all over the country grew numerically as a result of this outreach, but it s not the numbers that are important it is the individual lives of those who hear and respond to the gospel.

12 12 CHRISTIAN EXAMINER August 2013 SD WE TEACH SKIN CARE Mary Kay has a proven effective skin care program for you. All basic skin care products are noncomedogenic and clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy. Call today! Sandy Hertzberg (619) Independent Beauty Consultant PAID ADVERTISEMENT Men s study seeks Courageous Resolution EL CAJON Shadow Mountain Community Church is offering a new session of its ongoing Courageous Resolution for Men Bible study, which will be held Aug. 22 and 29. Numerous groups are forming. There is a $10 fee for the book. Reservations may be made by sending an to menofresolution.org. For more information, visit www. menofresolution.org or call (619) Plant With Purpose seeks gala donations SAN DIEGO Plant With Purpose is seeking auction items for its annual fundraising gala, set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Paradise Point Resort. Organizers are hoping to secure dining certificates, getaways, entertainment and airline miles. The evening traditionally features inspiring stories of transformation, stunning sunset views, a silent auction on the paradise lawn overlooking Mission Bay and a catered dinner. Additional activities include a live auction, opportunity drawing and a unique fund-a-need auction. All proceeds benefit the ministry, which empowers the rural poor to improve their lives and land. Since its founding in 1984, Plant With Purpose helps the poor restore 27 Quick & Easy Fix Ups to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar North County San Diego Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And once you have made that decision, you ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here s a way to help you to be as prepared as possible. To assist homesellers, a new industry report has just been released called 27 Valuable Tips That You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar. It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today s tough, aggressive marketplace. Through these 27 tips, you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the most profit possible. In this report you ll discover how to avoid financial disappointment or worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, you get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home. To order your FREE copy of this report, visit You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money. productivity to their land to create economic opportunity out of environmental restoration. To date, ministry volunteers have helped thousands of people in nearly 250 villages lift themselves out of poverty through our holistic approach to sustainable development. To donate, please send an to For more information on the gala itself, visit Santee UMC to host Mindfulness class SANTEE Santee United Methodist Church will host Practicing Mindfulness, a free class on ancient Christian relaxation techniques, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14. Practicing mindfulness is the new thing in mental health care, said Mary Evelyn Harris, a graduate of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Bethel Seminary and facilitator for the class. The class will teach ancient Christian techniques that marry centering breath, deep relaxation, prayer, meditation and imagery. Harris is a licensed marriage and family therapist based at the church and leads its SoulCare programs. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and bring a pillow or small blanket. For reservations, call (619) The church is located at 8964 N. Magnolia Ave. Scent party to raise money for kids charity ESCONDIDO Oak Hill Church of Christ will host a Sunshine and Lemonade Party fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 to benefit Passion 4 KIDS. The event will feature Scentsy Family Products and will include door prizes, a raffle and silent auction. According to organizers, 20 percent of all sales from the event will benefit the children s charity. The church is located at 1301 Oak Hill Drive. To register for the event, contact Debbie Winters at (760) Life-coaching program on significant women OCEANSIDE Military Ministry, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ International, will hold Military Taste of Significant Woman from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Calvary Chapel Oceanside. The 10-week life-coaching discipleship program is a described as resource to use in your ministry. The $40 registration fee includes a catered lunch, curriculum materials and childcare for children up to 12 years old. The fee for active duty members or spouses of active duty military is $20. The deadline to register is Sept. 6. Registration may be made on line by visiting The church is located at 3715 Oceanic Way. For more information, call (760) Women s Connection luncheon to host florist LOMAS SANTA FE The North Coast Women s Connection will hold a luncheon meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club. Bee Bareng, a professional floral designer and wedding planner, will be the guest speaker. In addition to her work in floral design, Bareng is the co-author of Conversations of Faith. She is a mother to four grown children and has four grandchildren. In addition to the luncheon, the event will also include a raffle for various gift baskets. Reservations, required by Sept. 3, are $20. For more information, send an to Healing Rooms open on Tuesdays ESCONDIDO Faith Harbor Church will open its healing room to the public from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Those seeking prayer may visit the room during this time to receive ministry from trained workers. The ministry was launched July 23 after members underwent specialized training in May. No insurance required, said Chris Allen, director of the Escondido Healing Rooms. Will bill your faith. The church is located at 444 S. Escondido Blvd. For more information, visit www. faithharborchurchsd.com. Hillsong LIVE guests at Summer at the Rock POINT LOMA Hillsong LIVE will present its Live Worship Night from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Aug. 12 at Rock Church. The concert is part of the church s ongoing Summer at the Rock, series which is designed as Your Chance to Recharge. Hillsong LIVE describes itself as a local church with a global influence and is committed to continually resource the Body of Christ with fresh songs of worship and a deep passion to see people connect with the Living God in a real and personal way. It s members are made up from Hillsong worship teams from around the globe and include Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Ben Fielding, Hillsong UNITED and international teams from London, Stockholm and Cape Town. Since 1992, Hillsong LIVE has resourced the local church and received gold and platinum album status multiple times, writing such well known worship songs as Shout To The Lord, Inside Out, Hosanna, The Stand and Mighty to Save, which was awarded the 2009 Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year and is currently the No. 1 CCLI song in the USA and Canada. Ticket prices vary by location and range from $25 to $35. For more information, visit www. sdrock.com/events/summer. Skyline Church hosts Beth Moore simulcast LA MESA Skyline Church will host a daylong Beth Moore Living Proof Live simulcast beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 14. The event, celebrating its 15 th year, will also feature worship music by Travis Cottrell. The event will be broadcast from the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, W.V. As she has done since the seminars began 15 years ago, the topic will be determined by how the Lord is leading her that day. No two messages are the same, the event literature said. While the message varies, the purpose does not: teach women to love and live on God s Word. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The church is located at Campo Road. For more information, send an to or call (619) Tabernacle event set for September SAN MARCOS Limitless Realms International will host Feast of Tabernacles in The Pavilion Sept. 19 and 20 at the Lake San Marcos Pavilion. The gathering, which will feature musician Dr. Derek David Kuhn, starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Friday s daylong session begins at 9 a.m. Kuhn has produced the album By His Stripes we are Healed. For more information, send an to gmail.com. Longshoremen will host annual dock study LONG BEACH Longies in the Lord, a network of lunchtime Bible studies for Southern California longshoremen, will host its sixth Annual Bible Studies on the Docks from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Cosco parking lot at Long Beach 247. The event will include a free lunch, drinks and Bibles. The program will include live music, prayer, talks of encouragement and a 20-minute Bible lesson. The ministry was launched in 2004 by a group of dockworkers from the Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors. A San Diego group is in the process of forming and several local longshoremen are expected to attend the event in Long Beach. For more information, visit www. longiesinthelord.com or call (310) TV host to speak at South Bay luncheon BONITA South Bay Christian Women s Connection will hold its monthly lunch meeting at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Chula Vista Golf Course Restaurant. In addition to the buffet lunch, the event will include music and a fashion show. The speaker will be Marijo Reineking, who served as host of the Joyfully His Ministries program on Witness TV. Tickets are $15. Advance registration is required. The golf course is located at 4475 Bonita Road. For more information, call (619) Kroc church sponsors Rock the Block SAN DIEGO Kroc Community Church will host a Rock the Block neighborhood outreach beginning at 4 p.m. Sept. 7. A concert featuring Lovelite will start at 7 p.m. In addition to the live entertainment, the event will include food, drinks, games and activities. The event is designed to familiarize the community with the church s many offerings day camp, ice arena, skatepark, rock wall, fitness center, art and music classes, junior theatre, sports leagues, aquatics center, group exercise classes and Christian preschool. Kroc Community Church is part of the Ray and Joan Kroc Salvation Army Corps Community Center, located at 6845 University Ave., San Diego. For more information, visit kroccenter.org or call (619) 287-KROC.

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Callahan, Little & Sullivan 2533 South Coast Highway, Suite 280, Cardiff, CA North County San Diego Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church s pastor s love of music has spread to the church, which now offers a monthly concert series featuring many different styles and genres of music. Bach to rock Lakeside pastor makes his mark with church concert series for community By Lori Arnold LAKESIDE As a child who feasted on music with his parents and older sister, the Rev. Bob Mentze, who shepherds Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church, always figured he would be a pastor of notes. Our living room had both a full-size electric organ and upright grand piano, and we always said that we could open a small music store with all the instruments in the house, said Mentze, a vocalist who also plays the organ, piano, guitar, French horn and trumpet. His passion for music was instilled by his parents who both taught music. His mother began giving piano lessons while she was still a teen, earning money to pay for her college education. After teaching elementary and junior high music, she continued offering piano lessons while raising her children. Mentze s father taught instrumental music for San Diego City schools for 41 years, serving on the campuses of Roosevelt, Horace Mann and Muirlands, while also offering private lessons. Both my sister and I grew up playing instruments and singing, the pastor said. Christmas was particularly a special time. After my voice changed, we had a soprano-alto-tenor-bass quartet, and we would play Christmas carols on various instruments. That passion for music has helped to shape his 29-year ministry at the church and prompted the congregation to invest in traditional and digital organ pipes. The first installation came in 1984 when he started pastoring at the Lakeside church. The original setup was a 13-rank system installed by San Diego Pipe Organ Company. According to Mentze, who minored in music at San Diego State University, a rank is a set of pipes usually 56 pipes, one for each note of the keyboard with a single register of a specific timbre. Later, the church expanded its system to 18 ranks, using Blackinton and Associates, the firm that maintains the organ in Balboa Park. Three years ago, the church expanded again, this time adding a Rodgers Masterpiece Signature 356 Digital Imaging Organ that has the capacity to produce 100 orchestral sounds. The combined result is the equivalent of 200 ranks, with the The Rev. Bob Mentze sits at the church organ with his trumpet and guitar. electronic sound emanating from 22 speakers embedded in the pipe chamber, as well as speakers in the choir loft and balcony. Sometimes visitors will ask, Where was the harpist or classical guitarist? I heard it but didn t see where the person was that was playing it. They are surprised to find out that all of that was the work of one person, seated at the organ console. Most of the time that person is church organist Reginald Warren. Since 2011, however, the organ is getting an even bigger workout thanks to the church s ongoing concert series. Mentze said the concept for the concert series evolved out of celebrations for his 25 th anniversary at the church. (I was) asked how I would like to celebrate it, and I suggested a concert, said Mentze, who began playing the French horn in fourth grade. That concert was not a single artist or group but many from the church, including me! Not long after that, the East County Youth Symphony, which was using the Lakeside church for its rehearsals, asked if they could host a concert there. It seemed like there were several churches in the San Diego area that were doing concert series, but not much in East County, he said. In addition to classical music, the series also features cantatas, acoustic guitars, wind instruments and an annual Christmas concert. In September, Christian country artist Mary James and her band will take the stage. Bucking the myth Located just over half a mile away from the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, in a town belittled as nothing more than a Podunk enclave where everyone drives trucks with rifle racks, the Presbyterian church seems an unlikely place for concerts featuring Bach. There are people of a great many backgrounds and interests in Lakeside and East County, said Mentze, who last year published Music Magnifies the Message: A Practical Guide to Increasing the Effectiveness of Preaching through the Integrational Use of Music for his doctoral dissertation. The interest in the concerts has shown this. We also try to have a wide variety of musical styles in series... one might say it ranges from Bach to rock. Since its inception, attendance at the free-will offering outreach concerts has steadily grown. There are many who attend other churches who make a point of coming to our concerts on a regular basis, he said. Several people have started attending worship at our church as a result of first coming to a concert. For more information, visit www. lakesidepc.org and click on the worship and music tab. Upcoming concerts Aug. 25, 4 p.m. The Praxum Brass Quintet in its premiere concert Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Christian country artist Mary James and band. Oct. 27, 4 p.m. The Bunnell Strings, five siblings who have played together since childhood. Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Annual Christmas Concert with the LCPC Joyful Noise Choir, SD School of Creative and Performing Arts choir and the Pacific Sound Brass presenting John Rutter s Gloria, as well as additional music by the Pacific Sound Brass. The event includes congregational Christmas Carols singing to be accompanied with organ and brass.

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